Re-reading 'In Search of Lost Time'

[Jonathan]

Dave wrote: "Heh, If its a book I'm tempted Jonathan. I read a number of essayists when younger but can't think of the last time. So no, probably not.

Meanwhile, what happened to your Proust picture? I always ..."

He! He! My pic is back to the original 'boy smoking and reading Henry Miller's Sexus' - I added the Proust head whilst I was reading ISOLT.

I don't recall much (or any) smoking in ISOLT either - not even pipes! I wonder what Freud would say about that?

[Dave]

Yeah, I was a Henry Miller enthusiast when much younger. Have you read his "The Books in My Life"? Now there was an essay. I was (and am) big on essays on reading.

[Jonathan]

Dave wrote: "Yeah, I was a Henry Miller enthusiast when much younger. Have you read his "The Books in My Life"? Now there was an essay. I was (and am) big on essays on reading."

I haven't read it but I downloaded a scanned copy of it a little while ago and nearly started it a few months back. I haven't read any Miller for years though. I couldn't recall him mentioning Proust in any of his books but I did notice that ISOLT is in his list (at the back of 'Books in My Life') of the books that influenced him the most.

[Marcelita]

Dave wrote: "Heh, If its a book I'm tempted Jonathan. I read a number of essayists when younger but can't think of the last time.

Which brings to mind, did anyone in ISOLT smoke? I don't recall. Marcelita?"

Several.
The narrator's uncle: "I covered my old uncle’s tobacco-stained cheeks with passionate kisses,..." MP
The Baron smoked a cigar.
M. de Crécy smoked a pipe and cigar.

Those that smoked in the "smoking rooms" in the homes of the Baron and the Verdurin's.
(Madame Verdurin was worried her rugs would catch fire.)

And, remember the memorable statement by a journalist, before Saint-Loup "smacked" the smoker : “'There’s no rule against smoking that I know of,' said the journalist. 'If people aren’t well, they have only to stay at home.'" MP

[Dave]

You are so great at finding these interesting gems Marcelita. Thanks! I also suspect Baroness Putbus' maid chewed tobacco, but I guess we'll never know.

[Jonathan]

Is everyone still interested in a group re-read of Combray? If so, when do you want to do it? before Xmas or after? straight after Xmas or later? It's 225 pages in my edition so I may prefer to read it after Xmas but I'm flexible.

[Renato]

I am interested and can do it starting January 4.

[Dave]

I'm in an January 4 is good for me.

[Jonathan]

Ok, January 4th sounds good to me.

I've added a new folder titled 'Re-reading ISOLT' and I've added a discussion thread for 'Swann's Way'. IF we re-read any more then we can add further threads as desired. I think a single thread for each novel should be sufficient.

At the moment I'm not contemplating re-reading further than 'Combray'....but you never know...